the night. His body was Leo’s. His tanned, muscular chest was powerful, his skin like satin over steel. Daisy’s fingers wonderingly stroked his rough dark hair, his small, hard nipples, then down over the flat muscles of his belly.
Leo, but not Leo. Not exactly. She knew too much now. Leo had been her equal. This man was more powerful than Daisy in every possible way. He was a famous, self-made billionaire who’d crushed the world beneath his Italian leather shoe, building a global fortune. He was the most eligible playboy in the world, handsome and rich, the man every woman wanted.
And yet—
And yet, in this moment, she saw a strange vulnerability in his black eyes. He watched her as if he expected, at any moment, she might break the spell, and break his heart.
It was an illusion, she told herself.
But as he lowered his mouth passionately to hers, she was lost in his embrace as he wrapped his powerful arms around her. His lips plundered hers, his tongue teasing and tempting. His hands stroked down her body, cupping her full breasts, moving down her full belly to the curve of her hip.
Then his kiss gentled. He held her against his muscular chest as if she were a precious treasure. His hand cupped her cheek tenderly.
“Marry me,” he whispered. “And I’ll hold nothing back. I will give you everything.”
Everything? What did he mean? “You already gave me too much. That money in my bank account—”
“I’m not talking about money.”
Then what? Her heart lifted to her throat. He couldn’t mean—he might be able to truly love her?
Lowering his head, he kissed her. His sensual fingertips caressed her bare skin, from her shoulder, to the sensitive crook of her neck. He softly stroked the tender flesh of her earlobe, his fingers tangling in her long hair, as need sizzled through her.
He cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb against her nipple. Leaning forward, he drew her tight, aching nipple into the wet heat of his mouth. She gasped as she felt the hot swirl of his tongue suckling her, the roughness of his chin against her skin.
Pushing her legs apart, he knelt between her thighs on the bed. His broad-shouldered body was silhouetted by the city’s dappled light outside. His black eyes gleamed as he slowly pulled her white lace panties down from her hips, like a whisper over her thighs, past her knees and calves, tossing them to the floor.
Shivering with desire, she closed her eyes, her head straining back against the pillows. He spread her thighs wide with his powerful hands, moving his head between her legs. He paused, and she felt the heat of his breath against her skin.
Then, finally, he lowered his head to taste her. His hot, sensual tongue swirled against her, lightly, delicately, then lapping with more force, pushing inside her as she gasped with pleasure. The delicious tension coiled inside her, building higher and higher, until, suddenly, she cried out with joy, rocked by ecstasy.
She was still gasping beneath waves of pleasure when he lifted himself up, holding himself over her belly with his powerful arms. Positioning himself between her legs, he pushed inside her with one deep thrust.
A hoarse groan escaped him as filled her, stretching her to the hilt. For a split second, it was too much.
Then, as he held himself still, allowing her body to adjust, incredibly, new pleasure began to build inside her. He thrust inside her again, slowly. But the muscles of his arms seemed to bulge and shake, and a bead of sweat formed on his forehead, from the effort of holding himself back.
Suddenly, he pulled back. Falling onto the bed beside her, he gently rolled her on top of him.
“Take me,” he said huskily, his dark eyes like fire. “I’m yours, if you want me.”
If she wanted him?
She wanted him—yes. But he’d never asked her to take control before. Feeling uncertain, she hesitated, her body suspended over his. He was so huge. Then, slowly, she positioned herself, lowering her body, pulling him inside her, inch by delicious inch. The pleasure was almost too much to bear.
Then she looked down at his face.
His expression was worshipful, almost holy, as if he held his breath, as if he were barely holding on to the shreds of self-control. Her confidence grew.
Slowly, she began to ride him. As she picked up rhythm, he gasped aloud, a single choked groan. He suddenly gripped her thighs with his large hands.
“Daisy—slow down—I can’t—I can’t—”
But she was merciless,